Marine Corps Sgt. Daniel M. Vasselian, 27, died Dec. 23 in Helmand province, Afghanistan when the enemy ambushed his Humvee.
He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune, N.C., according to the Department of Defense.
Vasselian's hometown was Abington, Mass. He graduated from Abington High School in 2004.
His widow and high school sweetheart, Erin Doyle Vasselian, told WHDH-TV her husband joined the Marine Corps because he "wanted to be great."
The Associated Press reports Vasselian was on his third combat deployment when he was killed.
Vasselian's remains arrived at Dover Air Force Base on Christmas.
